Buckle for packaging straps

ABSTRACT

A first component to which one end of a packaging strap is to be connected, is connected with a second component to which the other end of the strap is to be connected, the connecting arrangement permitting both pivotal displacement of the components relative to one another, and also relative longitudinal movement of the components between a position in which the strap is slack and a position in which the strap is tensioned.

United States Patent l 3,835,506 Berns Sept. 17, 1974 [54] BUCKLE FOR PACKAGING STRAPS 2,429,926 10/!947 Davis 24/197 1 Invenwfl Harald wuppwal-filberfele iifii'fii i132? $35391.1111::11iiiiiii:1::ijjjjiiiiiiiififiih? Germany i [73] Assignee: Herkert Schlbaeh KG, Wuppertal, primary Examiner DOna]d G iffi Gflmany Attorney, Agent. or Firm-Michael S. Striker [22] Filed: June 22, 1973 21 Appl. NO; 372,636 57 ABSTRACT A first component to which one end of a packaging [30] Forelgn Apphcatlon pnomy Data strap is to be connected. is connected with a second June 27, 1972 Germany v. 2231324 component to which the other end of the strap is to be connected, the connecting arrangement permitting [52] US. Cl. 24/68 I), 24/75 both pivotal displacement of the components relative [5i] Int. Cl. A44b 11/25, A43C 11/00 to one another, and also relative longitudinal move- [58] Field of Search 24/75, 197, 68 D ment of the components between a position in which the strap is slack and a position in which the strap is [56] References Cited tensioned.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Hill 24/75 9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDSEPITW 3.835.506

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FIGA

BUCKLE FOR PACKAGING STRAPS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a buckle for packaging straps of banding straps, and more particularly to a buckle which connects the end of packaging straps and can be adjusted between positions in which the strap is slack and in which the strap is tensioned.

This type of cinching device is already known from the art. It has two functions to fulfill, namely on the one hand to connect the cooperating strap ends-usually the opposite ends of a single strap and on the other hand to tension the strap when required. In other words, such devices function as a combination of a strap connector and a strap tensioning tool and are therefore advantageous in many ways. They do, however, have a significant disadvantage in that the complete disconnection of the strap ends or strap components, which are connected by such a cinching device, requires that at least one of the strap ends be physically removed from the cinching device, which is time consuming and frequently bothersome. Moreover, the production of these cinching devices is expensive, not only in terms of their structure but also because the assembly of the components of these devices is relatively time consummg.

SUMMARY OF THE. INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an improved cinching device of the type under discussion, which avoids the disadvantages outlined above with respect to the prior art.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide such a cinching device which can be produced readily and at relatively low expense, and which can be used in a very simple manner.

In keeping with these objects, and with others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides, in a cinching device of the character described, in a combination comprising a first component adapted to have an end of a banding strap connected thereto, and a second component adapted to also have an end of a banding strap connected thereto. Connecting means connects the components with one another for pivotal displacement, and for relative longitudinal movement between a position in which the strap is slack and aposition in which the strap is tensioned.

With a device according to the present invention each of the components can be produced separately, thus greatly facilitating the construction and assembly of the device. Each of the components can be sepa rately connected with the associated strap end, that is the connection therewith can be established before the two components themselves are connected. This facilitates the connection of the strap ends with the respective components, which latter are then subsequently engaged with one another, whereby the device is then ready for use. If the strap involved is of the type which simply encircles a package or the like, it is merely necessary when the strap is to be released from the package to move the components relative to one another to a position in which the strap is slack and can be removed from the package. It is not necessary to disengage the strap from either one of the components,

and the components themselves cannot become lost because they continue to remain connected with the strap.

To prevent undesired disengagement of the components, it is advantageous if the connecting means employed must perform movement in a labyrinthine path in order to permit the two components to become disconnected.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the present invention in tensioning position, but with the strap connections being omitted;

FIG. 2 shows the device of FIG. 1 in a somewhat diagrammatic longitudinal section, with the components of the device being shown in the open position and with the straps being shown connected with the components;

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 but showing the device in tensioning position;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 1, shown almost in tensioning position and with the straps omitted;

FIG. 5 is a side view of one of the components of the device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the other of the components which cooperates with the one shown in FIG. 5; and

FIGS. 7-9 are fragmentary diagrammatic sectional views showing details of the illustrated device in various relative positions of the components, with parts which in these views should be sectioned having deliberately not being shown in section to permit a more ready understanding of the movements which are involved.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS shows clearly that the components 10 and 11 are each of one piece, preferably made by stamping of U-' profiled steel sheet or the like, including their respective pivot means 12. This is a particularly simple way of producing these components and has the advantage that additional assembly work is not necessary after the components are stamped, that is no rivets, bolts or the like are required. The arms of the respective U-shaped profile are produced by bending or stamping portions of the sheet material to requisite shape.

These angled arms form longitudinally extending sidewall portions 13 and 14, respectively. By appropriate embossing and stamping of the center portion which forms the bight of the U, webs are formed which connect the respective pairs of sidewalls 13, 14. These webs serve for connection thereto of respective strap portions 15, 16, as is most clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Three webs for connection of the strap portion 16 are provided in the component 11. However, as FIG. 4 shows particularly clearly, that portion of its sidewalls 14, which is in the region of the pivot means 12, is free of these webs. This portion is identified with reference numeral 20 and extends over more than one-third of the entire length of the component 11. Due to their substantially fork-shaped configuration the sidewalls 14 leave a free space 21 in this portion 20, where the component may be arranged as will be seen later.

The centei web 18 of the component 11 is upwardly deflected out of the general plane of the bight and its rearward edge serves for supporting a portion 22 of the associated strap loop, being surrounded at its upper and lower side by respective portions of the strap 16 as shown in FIG. 3. Separated from the web 18 by a gap 23 is a further web 17 which is located in the general plane of the bight and is provided with a transversely extending reinforcing rib 57. It is twice surrounded by the strap portion 16 at its upper and lower side, with the strap portion being looped about it. The front edge 24 of the web 17 about which the strap is looped is almost at the center point of the component 11. To provide a lateral abutment for the strap 16, the sidewalls 14 are extended beyond the web 17 by lateral portions 25 which not only reinforce and stiffen the strap 16 but also serve as abutments during the pivotal movement of the component 11 to open position, i.e. when the latter has been moved to its open position which is shown in FIG. 2.

From the edge 24 the strap 16 extends in a double layer beneath the web 18 and above a rear web 19 which is separated by a gap 35 from the web 18 and is located below the general plane of the bight. Thus, the strap 16 is supported on the web 19. The free end 26 of the strap 16 can end in the region of the component 11, as shown in FIG. 2, whereas its other end either extends to a non-illustrated securing location where it is secured to a package or the like, or'else the strap is looped around and its other end is connected with the component 10, in which case the other end would be represented by the strap portion which is shown in the drawing. The sidewall portions 14 are provided with a longitudinally extending rib 58 which extends to the bifurcated portion of the component 11.

The strap portion 15 is connected with the component 10 in a similar manner as has been described above with respect to the component 11. However, the constructional configuration of the component 10 itself is different from that of the component 11. It will be seen that the component 10 has a center web 28 the rear edge of which supports the loop of the strap portion 15 at 31. The strap portion first passes in form of one layer above and below the web 28, with the lower layer extending through a gap 54 and passing upwardly, so that the strap portion 15 then passes in a double layer above a web 27 until it reaches the front edge 32 of the latter, about which it is looped. This front edge 32 is on the other side of the pivot means 12. A web 56 is provided at the front end of the component 10, being spaced from the edge 32 by a narrow gap 33 and serves to maintain the two layers of the strap portion 15 which pass through the gap 33 even when the component 10 is in its fully open position as shown in FIG. 2.

The web 56 as well as the web 27 are essentially located in the plane of the bight of the U-shaped component 10. However, the edge of the web 56 which faces the narrow gap 33 is bent upwardly, to facilitate the passing of the strap portion 15 through the gap 33. The web 56 is very narrow whereas the web 27 is rather wide and extends over a substantial portion of the length of the component 10, in particular over slightly more than one-third of the total length of the component. The web 27 is further reinforced by provision of three longitudinally extending reinforcing ribs 34 in the region of its rear end, and in the region of its front end by two downwardly formed steps 59 adjacent to the edge 32, over whose comers the strap portion 15 is tensioned in form of a double layer when the device is in closed position as shown in FIG. 3. This provides for an advantageous distribution of the forces which develop when the device is in the closed or tensioning position. The width of the component 10 is such with respect to that of the component 11 that the component 10 can be received with slight play in the bifurcated front portion 20 of the component 11, as shown in FIG. 4.

When the device is in the open position, corresponding substantially to that shown in FIG. 2, the strap portion 15 can readily be passed around the web 28, especially because a cutout 37 is formed adjacent the latter which extends over almost one-quarter of the total length of the component 10. The free end 36 of the strap portion 15 is then passed through the gap 33 and when a pull is exerted upon it, the two strap portions 15,16 are placed under slight tension in this open position. In the open position the strap portion 15 can slip about the rear edge 38 of the web 28, because the strap is not yet prevented from doing so by contact with the edge 32 and the corners of the steps 59. The other end of the strap portion 15 is either secured at a fixed location on the package or the like, or else it is of one piece with the strap portion 16 in which case the entire strap is looped around the package.

When the device is to be used for cinching or tensioning the strap, then the component 10 is pivoted from the position of FIG. 2 into the position of FIG. 3. During this movement the edge 32 moves left to a level above the pivot axis 42 which, as FIGS. 2 and 3 show, is determined by the center of the pivot means 12. In other words, this results in an over-dead-center position. Above and below the web 27 the strap portion 15 forms double layers, meaning that a substantial portion of the strap length is taken up within the component 10 during movement to tensioning position, which results in a substantial tensioning between the two strap portions 15,16 as indicated by the arrows Z in FIG. 3.

The tensioning movement of the component 10 in the direction of the arrow 39 from the position of FIG. 2 to the position of FIG. 3 does not require the use of a tool, but can be carried out manually without any difficulties due to the lever effect which occurs. This results from the effective lever arms with respect to the pivot axis 42, and which are determined by the spacing of the edge 32 and the opposite free end 40 of the component 10, respectively. The longitudinal wall portions 23 are connected at the end 40 by a web 30 which can be engaged by the hand of a user.

When the device is in the closed position of FIG. 3, the strap portion 15 passes beneath this web 30, which could also be used as an abutment for delimiting the movement to closed position. The free end 36 of the strap can also be pulled through the gap 37 to the upper side of the device, if desired. The corners of the gap or cutout 37, and particularly those of the gap 54, are rounded in order to prevent any possible damage to the strap.

To assure that the device, once it is in closure or a tensioning position, cannot unintentionally move to open position, the rear portion of the cutout 37 is provided with angled portions 29 which reduce its width to a dimension which is less than that of the strap portion and which in closed position engage in hook-like manner underneath the tensioned strap portion 15, so that undesired return movement to open position is prevented.

The tensile force Z acting upon the strap portions when the device is in closed or tensioning position, produces at the edge 32 of the component a torque, due to the aforementioned over-dead-center position, which is effective in a sense of the closing movement, that is in FIG. 3 in clockwise direction. This serves to hold the components 10 and 11 in their closure position in which they are supported by the package or the like which is being strapped whose upper contour edge 41 is shown in FIG. 2.

The pivot means of the novel device has a particular construction which will now be described and which is shown particularly clearly in FIG. 4 as well as in FIGS. 5 and 6. Double and interengaging pivots are provided, having a concentric turning or pivot axis 42 which is shown in broken lines. The two halves of the double pivots are each of one piece with the respectively associated component 10,11, being produced by stamping and appropriate shaping of portions of the sidewalls 13,14.

The innermost pivot, as seen with respect to the pivot axis 42, has a short projection 43 which only slightly extends beyond the wall thickness of the associated wall and which is hollow and formed on the wall 14. The

opposite sidewall 13 of the component 10 is formed with a journalling eye 44 formed as a cutout. This constitutes one pivot, and an additional pivot is provided which has a lesser depth of engagement. The eye 44 is surrounded in part by a bead 45 which is formed by deformation of the wall 13 in the direction to the wall 14. The height of the bead corresponds to approximately half the thickness of the wall. The inner surface of the wall 14 which is juxtaposed with the bead is formed with a circumferentially extending annular groove 46 which surrounds the projection 43 and whose steps correspond to the height of the bead 45.

The walls 13,14 are formed with depressions or channels of J-shaped configuration which, when the components 10 and 11 are coupled with one another and in closed position, extend eccentrically and symmetrically with reference to the pivot axis 42. They extend longitudinally of the walls 13, 14 from the respective eye 44 on the one hand and the groove 46 on the other hand, and extend to the respective free edges of the walls. In the case of the component 10 they are open at 51 at the upper side, and in the case of the component 11 they are open at 55 at the lower side. The channel 47 in the wall 13 is formed as a cutout whose configuration is most clearly seen in FIG. 5. Because of it, the head 45 is not circumferentially complete, but is only of halfmoon-shaped configuration. The width of the channel 47 corresponds to the diameter of the projection 43 and the channel 47 has a straight portion 49 and a curved portion 50 extending towards the center of the eye 44. Its open end 51 is located in the region of the web 27, and the cutouts are provided in the latter through which the projection 43 can be completely removed, and whose height must therefore be somewhat greater than the height of the projection.

Corresponding channels 48 are formed in the component 11 and are also in form of a substantially J -shaped depression formed in the walls 14. They extend from the center of the groove 46 and each also have a curved portion and a straight portion. The width of the channels 48 in the straight portion is less than the outer diameter of the halfmoon-shaped bead 45 and corresponds approximately to the width of this halfmoon. The depth of the channel 48 corresponds approximately to the height by which the bead 45 projects over the surface in which it is formed. The depth of the channel is somewhat less than the depth of the groove 46 in order to obtain a desired snap-in effect.

FIGS. 7,8 and 9 show different positions of the components 10 and 11 relative to one another during their disengagement. Evidently, the engagement will be the reverse of the disengagement, so that separate illustrations are not believed to be necessary. Because of the configuration and position of the channels 47,48 relative to one another the disengagement can be initiated only when the component 10 is in a certain angular position with reference to the component 11, as shown in FIG. 7. This starting angle which'is included between the components 10 and 1 l is designated as angle a and amounts to approximately In this position the double pivots are still in full engagement with one another. To start the disengagement a slight shifting of the component 10 is required, so that the surfaces of the pivots 12 begin to move apart in the direction of the elongation of the channels 47,48. The male pivot portions, namely the projection 43 and the bead 45, are guided in the respective channels 47,48 of the respectively opposite component, and increasingly move away from the female cooperating portions, namely the eye 44 and the groove 46.

However, a shifting alone is not sufficient for carrying out the disengagement. Initially, the components 10 and 11 must be moved towards one another by a slight degree, but in addition there must be a relative pivoting movement of the components 10 and 11. This requires a pivoting of the component 10 which initially results in an increased tensioning of the strap unless, as shown in FIG. 7, in the initial position a loosening of the strap at least at one side, advantageously at the component 10, has been carried out.

During the initial movements of the components 10 and 11 in a sense tending to disengage them, the bead 45 is engaged and guided by the surfaces of the channel 48 on the one hand, and the projection 43 is engaged and guided by the eye 44 and the extension thereof, namely the channel 47. In this initial phase it is predominantly necessary to turn the components relative to one another so that the projection 43 can completely move out of the confines of the bead 45, as shown in FIG. 8. During this movement the bead 4S and the projection 43 move through the curved portions of the channel 47 and 48, respectively, and it is now merely necessary for them to move through the straight portions in order to continue the disengagement.

This last movement for disengagement purposes involves predominantly a shifting of the two components 10 and 1] relative to one another, and only slight pivoting movement is still required. The ends of the halfmoon-shaped bead 45 must slide as FIG. 8 shows along one wall of the channel 48 and a portion of the projection 43, in order to reach the position shown in FIG. 9 where the bead 45 has essentially moved out of the open end 55 of the channel 48, and the projection 43 has also reached the open end 51 of its associated channel. A further relative displacement of the components 10,11 in direction tangentially to the respective straight portions of the channels 47 and 48 causes the portions 43 and 45 to leave their channels 47 and 48, respectively, so that the two components 10 and 11 are completely separated. It will be clear from FIGS. 7-9 that the center of the projection 43 determines with its respective position within the channel 47 the pivot point of the pivot movement required during the disengagement of the components 10 and 11, whereas the sidewalls of the halfmoon-shaped bead 45 determine with their respective position within the channel 48 the magnitude of the pivot angle required.

An alternate or an additional safeguard providing against undesired disengagement of the components 10 and 11 from one another, can be achieved in that one of the channels namely the channel 48 is provided with a projection 60 which is shown in broken lines in FIG. 1 as to its provision and size. This projection 60 can replace the function of the groove 46, in which case the groove 46 can be omitted. The projection 60 is arranged in the longitudinal center plane of the channel 48 and projects from the inner side of the walls 14, where the projections 43 are provided. Suchprojections 60 are spaced from the projections 43 by a distance which is at least equal to the width of the bead 45. In order to make it possible for the components 10 and 11 to be disengaged, the projection 45 must be moved past the projection 60 under exertion of disengaging force, which results in a brief bending-apart of the walls 14. The projections 60 thus act in conjunction with the respectively associated bead 45 as a snap action closure which effectively prevents an undesired disengagement of the components 10 and 11 from one another.

It is also conceivable to provide the channels (either 47 or 48) only in one of the components, and to give the channels (whether they be provided only in one or in both components) a shape which is different from the J-shape that has been illustrated.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a buckle, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations shouldand are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. A device for connecting and tensioning two bonding strap end portions, comprising a first component adapted to have one of the end portions connected thereto; a second component adapted to have the other end portion connected thereto; and means for releasably connecting said components to one another and including first and second male and female portions on said first and second components, respectively, said first male portion of said first component being operative for engaging said second female portion of said second component simultaneously with engagement of said first female portion by said second male portion so as to constitute a pivot having an axis about which one of said components can rotate with respect to the other component between one end position in which said male and female portions can be disengaged and an other end position through a plurality of intermediate positions in which said female portions restrain said male portions to angular displacement about said axis, the tension in said end portions increasing as said one component approaches said other end position thereof.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said components are respective one-piece sheet-material stampings.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said components includes a pair of longitudinally extending side wall portions each having a longitudinal edge portion; and further comprising a channel in each of said wall portions communicating with the respective female portion and extending from the respective longitudinal edge portion and having a transverse dimension substantially corresponding to a transverse dimension of the male portion associated with said respective female portion for guiding the same during its movement between said one end position and a fully disengaged position in which said components are separated from one another.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said channels of said first and second components have mutually similar configurations and have free end portions which face oppositely with respect to one another when said one component is in said other end position thereof.

5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein said channels are of substantially J-shaped configurations, said free end portions being substantially straight; and wherein said channels have closed end portions, said female portions being located in the regions of said closed ends.

6. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said channels of said first component is a recess formed in the respective side wall portion; and wherein each of said channels of said second component is a cutout provided in the respective side wall portion.

7. A device as defined in claim 6, and further comprising a projection in at least one of said recesses of said first component for elastically yieldably reducing the cross-section of said channel.

8. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said first male portion includes a pivot and said first female portion includes an annular groove provided in said first component, while said second female portion is an eye provided in said second component and said male portion includes a circumferentially incomplete annular bead partially surrounding said eye.

side wall portions of each of said buckle components in the regions of the respective closed ends of said channels, said female connecting portions communicating with the respective channels and said male connecting portions of one of said buckle components being adapted to be received and guided by the associated channels and female connecting portions of the other buckle component simultaneously with said male connecting portions of the other buckle component being received and guided by the associated channels and female connecting portions of said one buckle component so that said channels restrain one of said buckle components to movement in an elongated path with respect to the other component by guiding said male connecting portions from said free end to saidclosed end and vice versa, and said female connecting portions restrain one of the buckle elements to angular displacement with respect to the other buckle component by engaging said male connecting portions. 

1. A device for connecting and tensioning two bonding strap end portions, comprising a first component adapted to have one of the end portions connected thereto; a second component adapted to have the other end portion connected thereto; and means for releasably connecting said components to one another and including first and second male and female portions on said first and second components, respectively, said first male portion of said first component being operative for engaging said second female portion of said second component simultaneously with engagement of said first female portion by said second male portion so as to constitute a pivot having an axis about which one of said components can rotate with respect to the other component between one end position in which said male and female portions can be disengaged and an other end position through a plurality of intermediate positions in which said female portions restrain said male portions to angular displacement about said axis, the tension in said end portions increasing as said one component approaches said other end position thereof.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said components are respective one-piece sheet-material stampings.
 3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said components includes a pair of longitudinally extending side wall portions each having a longitudinal edge portion; and further comprising a channel in each of said wall portions communicating with the respective female portion and extending from the respective longitudinal edge portion and having a transverse dimension substantially corresponding to a transverse dimension of the male portion associated with said respective female portion for guiding the same during its movement between said one end position and a fully disengaged position in which said components are separated from one another.
 4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said channels of said first and second components have mutually similar configurations and have free end portions which face oppositely with respect to one another when said one component is in said other end position thereof.
 5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein said channels are of substantially J-shaped configurations, said free end portions being substantially straight; and wherein said channels have closed end portions, said female portions being located in the regions of said closed ends.
 6. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said channels of said first component is a recess formed in the respective side wall portion; and wherein each of said channels of said second component is a cutout provided in the respective side wall portion.
 7. A device as defined in claim 6, and further comprising a projection in at least one of said recesses of said first component for elastically yieldably reducing the cross-section of said channel.
 8. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said first male portion includes a pivot and said first female portion includeS an annular groove provided in said first component, while said second female portion is an eye provided in said second component and said male portion includes a circumferentially incomplete annular bead partially surrounding said eye.
 9. In a device for connecting and tensioning two bonding strap end portions, a combination comprising two buckle components each adapted to have one of the end portions connected thereto and including two elongated side wall portions and a transverse portion interconnecting said side wall portions, each of said side wall portions having a longitudinal edge and provided with a substantially J-shaped channel having a free end extending from said longitudinal edge into said side wall portion, and a closed end; and male and female connecting portions provided in the respective side wall portions of each of said buckle components in the regions of the respective closed ends of said channels, said female connecting portions communicating with the respective channels and said male connecting portions of one of said buckle components being adapted to be received and guided by the associated channels and female connecting portions of the other buckle component simultaneously with said male connecting portions of the other buckle component being received and guided by the associated channels and female connecting portions of said one buckle component so that said channels restrain one of said buckle components to movement in an elongated path with respect to the other component by guiding said male connecting portions from said free end to said closed end and vice versa, and said female connecting portions restrain one of the buckle elements to angular displacement with respect to the other buckle component by engaging said male connecting portions. 